Circuit-controlling mechanism.



No 891,893. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

' G. M. WILLIS.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG; 29, 1906.

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No. 891,893. I PATENTED JUNE 80, 1908.

- G. M. WILLIS.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1906.

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GEORGE M. WILLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING NCECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed August 29, 1906. Serial No. 332,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WILLIs, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful 1m rovement in Circuit Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

M .invention relates to circuit controlling mec anism, articularly to circuit controlling mechanisms for use in burglar alarm systems.

The object of my invention is to provide circuit controlling mechanisms or contact members which are more certain and reliable in their operation and which are of more simplified construction than similar devices heretofore employed.

My invention is of particular utility when applied to windows or other similar inclosing members, such as sliding doors.

I am aware that there are a great many atents covering contact mechanisms for use in burglar alarm or other systems, but they are deficient in that they are uncertain of operation, due principally to corrosion of contact surfaces. The devices of my invention are absolutely certain in operation and provide at all times suflicient contact so that the circuit connected therewith is properly and efficiently controlled.

Broadly speaking, the mechanism of my invention comprises two members, one in the form of a on for containing mercury, and the other in t 1e form of a flexible contact rod adapted to enter into the cup and thus complete the circuit. At the entrance of the cup member is a funnel-she ed guide )iece, thus insuring the entrance 0 the flexible member into the. cup through a wide range of dis placement of the moving windows from their true path of closing. The flexible contact member is of some material to which the mercurywill not adhere, but at its end is rovided with a copper tip which readily liecomes amalgamated, thus insuring electrical contact between the members.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the. construction and application of my invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of a set of windows, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2. is a 'sectlonal view ta 011 on line 22 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a front view of the contact member for the lower window; Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side and to views of the member shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a front view of the cup member for the lower window; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side and top views of the member shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig; 7; Fig. 10 is a front view of the contact member for the upper window; Figs. 11 and 12 are res ectively side and top views of the member sliown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a front view of the cup member for the upper win dew, and Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively side and top views of the member shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line 1616 of Fig. 13.

The cup member for the lower window is in the form of a casting of iron or other suitable material, comprising the supporting plate or back 1, having the extending web 2, terminating in the cup part 3 which cup part is drilled to form the cup or apartment 4, in which is contained the mercury or other contact medium 5. Through the supportin plate or back 1 are the screw holes 6, 6, an embedded in and extending from the upper or lower end of this body art is a contact ti or Wire 7 to which may e soldered a terminal of the circuits to be controlled. Extending a distance into the up or end of the cup 4 is the neck part 8 of the unnel-shaped member 9 whose lnner surface 10 has a slope of preferably in the neighborhood of fortyfive degrees. The contact member 006 crating with the cup member just descri ed comprises the contact rod 11, secured at its upper end in a supportin plate 12, provided with screw holes 13 and from which extends a contact tip or wire 14. plate 12 may be conveniently formed and the rod 11 and terminal 14 clamped therein as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A rod or bar of approximately twice the length of the late 12 is bent over into the form shown in ig. 5, and its limbs 15 and 16 securely The supporting brought together to clamp between them the upper end 17 of the contact rod and the terminal 14, whereaftcr the screw holes .13 are drilled. The contact rod 11 is iven a desired number of spring convolutions or turns 18 whereby the rod is rendered flexible and the end 19 thereof capable of moving readily in a lateral direction when the plate 12 is rigidly fastened. Inserted in the end 19 of the contact rod is a contact in 20. This pin is preferably of copper, an thereforethe mercury. in the cup will readily adhere thereto to insure electrical contact between the cup member and the rod. The rod itself, however, is preferably of steel or other material which will not amalgamate readily, and therefore upon withdrawal of the contact rod from the mercury cup, the mercury will not be carried-from the cup and thus Wasted. The application of this form of contact mechanism is shown in Fig. 1, being associated with the lower window, a cup member being secured at each side of the window framing while a contact member is secured to the window sash directly above each cup member in such position that when the Window is down or closed, the end of the contact rod will be within the cup and immersed in the mercury therein, and when the window is raised, the contact pin 20 will soon leave the mercury and the controlled circuit opened. When the window is again lowered, the lower ends of the contact rods again enter the respective cups and complete the circuit. As there is usually lost motion between the windows and the framing, the contact pins 20 will not always directly enter the cups, and it. is for this purpose that funnelshaped guiding members are provided. The window with this construction may have a wide range of lost motion, and although the contact pins travel in a path at one side of the entrance opening to the cup, they will strike the inner surface 10 of the funnelsha ed members, and owing to the flexibility of t e rod on account of the spring convolutions, the end thereof will readily pass into the cup. The r guiding surface also serves another purpose, namely, that ofv cleaning the contact point to insure thorough electrical engagement thereof with the mercury. This is accom lished'when the pointrubs along the gui ing surface .10, and a bright spot is formed on the point with which the mercury will make intimate electrical contact. No matter how long the window has been opened and how corroded. the dpoints 20 may have become, they are imme iately brightened sufficiently upon striking the guiding member to insure thorough electrical contact. I

The contact members for association with the upper window must be of slightly difierent construction to be adapted to the conditions of construction and o eration of the window. In orderto open t e circuit when the upper window is opened, the cup members must be secured to the window and the contact members must be secured to the supporting framework. Furthermore, availab e space between traveling windows is limited and, therefore, the cup members for the upper window must be sha ed accordingly. The contact members for the upper win ow will also lie between the movin windows, and their construction must also be modified parts whereby the member may be secured to the support. The contact rod 2a is given a suitable number of convolutions or turns 27, and in the lower end is inserted a contact pin 28, all for the same purpose as described in connection 'with the contact member shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The cup for the upper windows is shown in Figs. 13, 14:, 15 and 16. These cup members may be made integral and stamped from tubular material as shown. Part of the upper end of the tube is cutaway to leave a lug 29 through which is drilled a screw hole 30. The walls at the lower end of the tube are forced together as shown and clamp between their ends the ter minal or wire 31 and also form a lug 32 through which is drilled the screw hole 33. With this treatmentthe remaining part of the tube forms a cup 34 in which is contained the mercury 35. The upper end of the tube section below the lug 29 is further expanded in a direction transverse of the lug 29 to form the portion 36 whose walls 37 form an angle of approximately forty-five degrees. The tube about the base of the part 36 is also indented to form a neck 38. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cup members thus described are secured to the window sash, one at each side, the Width throughout of. the cup members being such that the Windows may readily pass each other upon opening or closing thereof. The contact members for the cups are secured to the partin strips 39 between the windows and are a so of such width throughout that the windows may, readily pass each other. The members are laced in such relative position that'when t e upper Window is in its upper position or closed, the ends of the contact rods 24 will be within the cups and mercur of the corresponding cup members secure to the windows. When the upper window is opened or lowered, the

cup members thereon are withdrawn from the contact rods, and the circuits controlled thereby are opened. When the windows are again raised, the contact pins either enter directly into the cups or strike the uid-ing surface 37 and the rod is thus guifed into the cups, the contact pins also being cleaned.

By-means of the Wire terminals or ti s extending from the contact members, t e circuit terminals can readily be applied, being preferably soldered thereto.

It can be readily seen that the contact mechanism of my construction must be very efficient, insuring thorough electrical contact at all times. The parts are also simple and durable in construction and practically free from wear. The parts can also be built of cheap material such as iron, which material also is not very readily amalgamated; consequently, there will be no loss of mercury due to adhesion thereof to these iron parts. The inserted copper contact pin, of course, will become amalgamated, but being so small and unusually pointed, the mercury will not adhere thereto in any quantity. The wide fun nel-shaped entrance to the cups and the flexibility of the contact rods enable the members to operate through a wide range of lost motion of the windows.

Changes in the exact construction and arrangement can also be readily made which will still come within the scope of the claims which are hereto appended and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. Contact mechanism comprising an 11 per and a lower member each adapted to e attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, a contact rod forming part of the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supporting the contact mem bers, said rod having a number of turns to render said rod flexible.

2. Contact mechanism comprising an u per and a lower member each adapted to e attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, a contact rod forming part of the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supporting the contact members, said rod having a number of turns to render said rod flexible and being seciired at one end in a late which is attached to one of the movab e members.

3. Contact mechanism comprising an upper and a lower member each adapted to be attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, a flexible contact rod forming part of-the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supportin the contact members, one end of said ower member being funnel-shaped thus insuring the entrance of the flexible rod into the cup through a wide range of displacement of the movable members from their true path of closing.

4. Contact mechanism comprising an upper and a lower member, each adapted to be attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member 'being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, said cup being stamped from tubular material, a contact rod forming part of the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supporting said contact members, said rod having a number of turns to render said rod flexible.

5. Contact mechanism comprising an u per and a lower member each adapted to l attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, said cup being made integral and stamped from tubular material, a flexible contact rod forming part of the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supporting the contact members, said lower member having an expanded end to insure the entrance of the flexible rod into the cup through a wide range of displacement of the movable'members from their true path of closing.

6. Lontact mechanism comprising an u per and a lower member adapted each to e attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, a flexible contact rod forming part of the upper member and secured in a plate attached to one of the movable members, said rod being of material which will not readily amalgamate, a contact point secured to the lower end of the contact rod, said contact point being readily amalgamated by the mercury thus insuring good contact upon entrance of the contact rod into the cup chamber, said cup member having an expanded end to insure the entrance of the flexible rod into the cup through a wide range of lost motion of the movable members.

7. Contact mechanisms comprising an upper and a lower member each adapted to be attached to one of relatively movable members, the lower member being provided with a cup or chamber containing mercury or other contact fluid, said cup being made integral and stam ed of tubular material, a contact rod forming part of the upper member and intended to enter the chamber upon relative movement of the members supporting the contact member, said rod having a number of convolutions or turns to render said rod flexible, the up )er end of said cup member being expanded to insure the entrance. of said contact rod into said cup member upon relative movement of said movable members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of August A. D.,

GEORGE M. WILLIS. Witnesses:

CHARLES J. Scnmn'r, JOHN F. STARR. 

